''Sonic: Evil Reborn Zero'' (also known as [[FunWithAcronyms SERZ]]) is a [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog fanfiction]] written by [[{{Troper}} SelMelvins]].The story [[DeconstructionFic deconstructs (or plans to)]] many aspects of Sonic lore and Sonic fanfiction, and does this by throwing in two otherwise random characters: an emerald green hedgehog named Koset who arrives in dramatic fashion, and an apparent demon/hedgehog named Wikke. Within the first two 'episodes', Shadow is taken down by a Sonic recolor and [[{{Wangst}} instances of angst arise]]. This is while taking place in an environment that seems [[MythologyGag a little too inspired by]] the [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Sonic]] [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Adventure]] series, [[Main/OriginalFlavour complete with some of the games' laughable dialogue]] for added affect. There's talk of [[ThePowerOfFriendship the value of friends]] and a glorification of the little things in Sonic, i.e. the rings, the lamp posts, and even loop-de-loops, things you don't typically find in Sonic the Hedgehog fanfiction. We're even treated to ''Cinos'', aka 'Evil Sonic', and it seems as if it's going to become an even more cliche fanfiction with all the usual tropes.

[[CerebusSyndrome But then it turns.]]

The story is naturally DarkerAndEdgier than the main games, and when it begins dwelling on its own deconstruction, it becomes rather bleak. It openly calls out things such as the nature of the historically lighthearted franchise being cast into such a dark scenario, alongside the purpose for rings, the nature of Chaos energy from an almost scientific standpoint, and conspiracy theories about Sonic and friends. It calls out the stupidity of fanfiction cliches and tired old tropes as it comes across them (and even before). It even dares to point out that the characters don't speak in cheery tones.

The most peculiar aspect of SERZ is its episodic format. Instead of a typical chapter-based progression, it uses "Episodes". An episode ranges from 5 to 8,000 words (what would normally be a chapter), and this is split into 4 bite-sized versions meant for an easier read. 'Episode 2, Chapter 8' is not a riddle or the eighth chapter of episode 2: it is chapter 8 chronologically, and this chapter is part of Episode 2. A main criticism of the series is that, while this method is organized, it bloats the number of chapters. Five episodes is 20 chapters, and because episodes are the 'real' chapters, this makes the fiction appear longer and more daunting than it actually is.

Example:

* Episode 1** Chapter 1** Chapter 2** Chapter 3** Chapter 4

* Episode 2** Chapter 5** Chapter 6** Chapter 7** Chapter 8

* Episode 3...And so on.

The fic is no longer on Website/FanFictionDotNet, but it's still readable [[http://forums.sega.com/showthread.php?389584-Sonic-Evil-Reborn-Zero here]].

----!!''Sonic: Evil Reborn Zero'' provides examples of:

* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: What the President has to grapple with thanks to so much foreign involvement and military internment of citizens.* OneUp: Used as a gag in Episode 25 when Jynx gains 100 rings and immediately falls in a pit of lava, reappearing next to a star lamp. It's used as a form of [[AndIMustScream torture]] in season 2, however, when [[spoiler:Metal Sonic uses it on Sonic in an attempt to break him.]]* AbandonedWarehouse: Abandoned steel mill* AbsurdlySharpClaws: Wikke in his Jackal/Serdist Unleashed forms.* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Episode 9, ''Sewer Rats.'' The sewer is so absurdly spacious, it's possible for millions of gallons of water to fill it up. ''In singular rooms.''* AcceptableBreaksFromCanon: Because of the already flimsy plot of the main franchise, when the story adds depth to Sonic's world, there's a solid chance it's not canon. * ActionGirl: Amy strives to become a competent one. Etero becomes one after [[spoiler:she slips some of her latent Serdist energy manipulation.]]* ActionPrologue* AffablyEvil: The BigBad, Wikke, is repeatedly offended when being called 'evil.' * AfterCombatRecovery: Rings act as this.* AfterTheEnd: After the end of [[spoiler:World War III]] in the third season, some of the Sonic heroes jump to Mobius. This is where the story really picks up as it's in Blaze's world that the Serdist Aristocracy is most prevalent.* AirborneAircraftCarrier: The Egg Armada is an armada in the sky. ** Guess what Yfels are supposed to be? [[spoiler:Carriers for Serdist Wraiths.]]* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Rockette and Wikke]] alike, though moreso for [[spoiler:Wikke]] since the former still intends to be murderous.* AmbitionIsEvil: Rockette. What's the best way to prove your worth to a madman? Why, attempting to brutally murder a bunch of woodland creatures, the world be damned!* AngerBornOfWorry: Amy especially* AnimationBump: The quality of the writing varies between decent to good (according to Sonic fanfiction standards that is), but the opening chapter, ''The Hero And The Madman'', reads like someone wrote down an edited version of the Sonic Unleashed intro, down to its tiniest details and frantic motions. * {{Animesque}}: The series repeatedly uses anime conventions such as inner monologues, sweat drops, and collective falling, though it keeps itself open as letting the reader imagine whether it would be visually western or eastern.* AnyoneCanDie: Stated by Koset, specifically to convince Amy that living by a [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin "good guys win no matter what"]] mantra will get them all killed.* ApocalypseHow: Knuckles has an open ended vision that Cinos destroys the world with Jynx's help* ArchEnemy: Koset and Wikke. Made worse by the fact [[spoiler: Koset is Wikke's father.]]* ArcNumber: 7, in tradition with the series. 23 also appears more than necessary.* ArtificialStupidity: The Rockettes are said to be among the dumbest battle-ready models Eggman has ever designed. Of course, everything about them is flawed due to a [[ObviousBeta rushed design.]]* AscendedExtra: Rockette. During seasons 1 and 2, she is just a [[{{MechaMook}} worthless consumer model.]] She quickly rises to importance in Season 3 when [[spoiler:she sends the entire war effort to Mobius/Blaze's kingdom and earns Eggman's respect.]] In the second series, she becomes a main character and a major part of the plot. It makes sense since she's the [[spoiler:ChosenOne]]* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: The ultimate fate of the Children of Chaos if they're successful.* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: There are few ways to ascend to a higher rank in the Serdist Aristocracy. The preferred method? Kill someone from a higher rank. Sounds easy, until one learns that each rank is exponentially stronger than the last one.* TheAtoner: Jynx. [[spoiler:Wikke at the very end]], though he's unapologetic about his duty.* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: Rockette, in Episode 15, is [[spoiler:trashed with the rest of the robots and just so happens to land on top.]]* AttackItsWeakPoint: [[ContinuityNod To keep with an established tradition of the series]]. During the battle against the Death Egg Rex and Yfel, the heroes had to find their opponents weak spots. For the latter, they have to resort to some creative methods to do any damage.* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Most of Eggman's 'final mechs' follow this rule. ** The Serdists have a different method: [[DavidVersusGoliath We Give Them Goliath]] [[SubvertedTrope So David Can Finish Them Off]].* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: The Serdist Aristocracy. As the fanfiction was originally intended for and based on Dragon Ball Z, the higher echelons of the group are far beyond Sonic the Hedgehog's level of power and ability, with the highest caste ranking as high as [[ApocalypseHow Class X-5]]* AxCrazy: Cinos, when Cinostæphulos comes through.* {{Badass}}: At some point, [[WorldOfBadass the whole cast. At the end of the first season, this even includes the humans.]]* BadassArmy: The police from Episode 40 on.* TheBadGuyWins: Sonic killing Wikke is part of the Serdists' plot.* BarrierBustingBlow* BattleInTheRain: ''The Eggman Empire Strikes Back''. * TheBeastmaster: Tails and Rouge. The series becomes partially {{Mons}} with the usage of Chaos and Serdist Wraiths.* BeleagueredAssistant: Increasingly, Eggman towards Wikke.* BelligerentSexualTension: Between Knuckles and Rouge. * BerserkButton: '''''Never''''' call Silver an albino hedgehog.* BigBad: Per season,** '''Wikke''' in Season 1.** '''Metal Sonic''' in Season 2 ** '''Perseus Venda''' in Season 3** '''Santorini''' in Season 4* BigBadDuumvirate: Metal Sonic and Digital Sonic in Season 2. * BigBadEnsemble: Eggman, Wikke, Jynx, and Cinos. * BigDamnHeroes: Sonic plays this role when Eggman attacks with the Eggman Armada in Episode 6, The Eggman Empire Strikes Back, though his friends were putting up a damn good fight.* BiggerBad: The Serdist Aristocracy, the Serdist War Machine, and the Serdist Mafia. It is implied that Sonic will never defeat any of these because of their omniversal reach.* BigGood: Gods of Chaos.* BigNO* BigRedButton: One of the first things in the story.* BittersweetEnding: Amplified due to the deconstruction nature of the series. [[spoiler:Wikke's arguably evil plot is thwarted, Sonic is normal again (and stronger than ever before), Tails has a lightsaber, Amy has undergone extensive development, Eggman's imprisoned, and the world is safe. Millions are also dead, Sonic is held under intense suspicion and scrutiny, the effects of Mars being pushed towards Earth has left chaos to Earth's tidal forces, and the destruction of several major cities atop a global cold war has whittled the economy and pushed relations between humans and byodokans to record lows.]]* BlackMagicianGirl: Etero* BlackMagic: Serdism. Serde energy by itself isn't necessarily evil, but because Chaos energy is contained by the emeralds, Serde is allowed to flow free in another universe.* BloodKnight: Cinostæphulos.* BloodlessCarnage: Though later averted, the fight between Sonic and Sonic Android is initially this.* BookEnds: Though not with the fanfiction but with the franchise, the final fight between Sonic and Wikke takes place on GreenHillZone.* {{Bowdlerise}}: Attempts to avert this and deconstruct previously bowdlerised characters.* BreakingSpeech: What Cinos tries against Tails in Episode 13.* BreakoutMookCharacter: Rockette could be the poster girl for this trope, as, besides being an [[AscendedExtra Ascended Mook]], she also gets not one, not two, but ''three'' spin-offs.* BreakTheCutie: Cinos does this to Amy, though with [[TookALevelInBadass positive]] long-term results.* BrickJoke:-->'''Rouge:''' “Funnest job in the world some days.” (About being a government agent) '''Episode 16'''-->'''Rouge:''' “And the dullest job ever on others. [[BreakingTheFourthWall Brick jokes, gotta love'em. Jump back a few episodes if you don't get it.]]” '''Episode 40'''* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: Punishment for interfering with a Serdist upperclassman's mission is death, or a FateWorseThanDeath and a non-Serdist killing a Serdist outside of war leads to a Serdist Caution. [[spoiler:Sonic either has to re-accept Cinos or lose his universe.]]* ButtMonkey: Knuckles. To an extent, Silver.** Surprisingly, [[spoiler:Wikke]].* CaptainObvious: Parodied.* CallBack: [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Red Mountain]] and the [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure2 Pyramid Base.]] Arguably Windy Valley and Pumpkin Hill.* TheCameo: The Freedom Fighters are mentioned in Episode 6, though they may not be the same Freedom Fighters from [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM SatAM]] or the [[Comics/ArchieSonicTheHedgehog comic]]. Keep an eye out for Metal Sonic in Episode 10 and later chapters as well.* CasualDangerDialog: They're so used to fighting Eggman that neither side seems to take it seriously anymore. Also, any fight with Rockettes will inevitably be this.* CerebusRollercoaster: It's not uncommon for the story to have one chapter that deals with mass murder and psychological suffering, only for the next to deal with women in bikinis or feature plentiful jokes.** The first arc, episodes 1 to 9, are generally like this because they attempt to emulate a typical Sonic Adventure. * CerebusSyndrome: Arc 2 starts it, though it's arguable that it began as early as Episode 2, chapter 6.* CharacterDevelopment: The series pains itself to develop otherwise flat characters. ** By episode 40, [[spoiler:Amy is undoubtedly the most developed character of the lot, having had her loyalty to Sonic so thoroughly tested and usefulness to the heroes examined that she takes it upon herself to improve herself. Because of this, Sonic and Amy appear to be better friends rather than odd couples afterwards.]]* ChargedAttack: Chaos Bomb* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Rockette, after she vows to dethrone Sonic as the fastest thing alive. And the anti-MarySue attitude of the fanfiction assures she suffers considerably.* ChekhovsBoomerang: In Episode 2, Chapter 8, ''A Happy Ending,'' take good note that Sonic [[spoiler:finds hundreds of thousands of power rings, but only takes back a fraction of them.]] In Episode 40, this becomes... direly important, to say the least.* ChekhovsGun: Sonic takes a ring from Eggman in Episode 4, which allows him to defeat the Death Egg Rex. [[LampshadeHanging The characters even note how stupid it was of Eggman to hold out the ring right when Sonic needed it most.]] What about it? The ring [[spoiler:was affixed with a spell that opened Sonic up to the Vichy Thlee spell, thus allowing him to be possessed by Cinos.]] ** In one episode, Tails remarks that there are 19 Chaos Emerald signals all appearing at once. This later proves odd when Eggman confirms that there are 13 fake Chaos Emeralds, plus the 7 originals. The missing Emerald is hidden by a Serde block, and is also the one Sonic uses to transform in Episode 36 as it is the only one no one finds beforehand.* ChekhovsGunman: In one scene that's very easy to overlook, it's implied that Metal Sonic stole a book from a museum. It's not until Season 2 that this is expanded upon, and not until ''well'' later in the storyline that it's revealed what he stole and why. And it turns out to be a little more than vital.** Rockette as well. She's little more than a recurring forgettable {{Mook}} in seasons 1 and 2, but she rises through the ranks afterwards, becoming a major part of the plot.* TheChessmaster: The Serdist Aristocracy, such as Malfiore, and students such as Santorini.* ChosenOne: [[spoiler:Rockette.]] Thought it would be [[spoiler:Sonic]], didn't you?* ClimaxBoss: Wikke, Serdist Unleashed vs Super Sonic.* CoDragons: Roach and Fier, Santorini's underlings.* ColonCancer: ''SERZ: Sonic: Evil Reborn Zero''* CombatSadomasochist: Fier.* ComplexityAddiction: Malfiore* ContinuityNod: The characters and narration give mention to times when certain events happen much like they are now and also talk of the events of previous games.** The first arc of the series also takes up much influence from Sonic Adventures 1 and 2, from plot points such as the Master Emerald being shattered to locations like Red Mountain. [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Soleanna]], though it's been [[CanonDiscontinuity wiped from history]], also plays a part in the plot.-->'''Narrator:'''Eggman has always promised to- but has never followed through on- changing his ways every single time he's backed into a corner. In fact, in one exceptionally extreme case, Robotnik had begged for mercy, [[VideoGames/SonicUnleashed only to shatter the world into seven pieces.]]* ContinuityPorn: Never forget an event from an earlier episode or chapter. They have a tendency to come up again at the most unexpected of times.* TheCorrupter: Pick a Serdist elite, any Serdist elite. [[spoiler:[[PunnyName Vita (or Prince Min)]] ]]is a great example.* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: One couldn't imagine how straightforward and simple Wikke's original mission was supposed to be.* CriminalDoppelganger: Sonic Android and Metal Sonic (the latter implied).* CurbstompBattle: Sonic Android vs Sonic, and Shadow vs Cinos (before ultra forms enter the fray)* CrazyPrepared: It's implied that Eggman prepared for a major brawl before ''The Eggman Empire Strikes Back''* CryForTheDevil: Wikke has a job to do at the risk of a FateWorseThanDeath, he's dying, he regrets his life decisions, and will either needlessly kill billions or lose the life of a beloved slave he desires to free. He's not necessarily a white-morality hero (he allies with Eggman for one), but he has morals.* DarkActionGirl: Etero in Season 3. Probably because she's a [[spoiler:[[EliteMook Serdist Advanced Student/Reaper.]] ]]* DarkAndTroubledPast: Wikke and Koset* DarkerAndEdgier: Than canon, by far.** Season 3, the [[spoiler:World War III]] arc, is the darkest season of the series as a whole* DarkestHour: Cinos vs Tails and Koset in Episode 13 and The heroes vs the Yfel in Episode 19* DeadlyRotaryFan* DeadpanSnarker: A very snarky female human reappears now and again.* DeathMountain* {{Deconstruction}}: The light hearted nature of the series in the first season. This is planned to be expanded upon in Season 2, featuring a much greater deconstruction of ''Sonic'' and video game physics and mechanics.* DeconstructionFic: And a brutal one at that. The story sets up an idea that it's as cliche as the average fanfic, which makes its deconstructions all the more satisfying. ** Season 2, appropriately named ''The Digital Fist/Fun and Games'' saga, plans to do an even more thorough deconstruction, focusing more on deconstructing Sonic the Hedgehog/video game tropes rather than fanfiction.* DeliciousDistraction: One comes early in season 2 when Sonic is treated to a chili dog to distract him from the incoming paparazzi. * {{Determinator}}: Rockette, to an extreme.* DiabolusExMachina: Sonic's possession. If you are skimming through the story, it's impossibly easy to miss or misinterpret the early warning signs.* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: When the heroes take down Black Nuclear Yfel* DifficultySpike: Cinos is defeated by Koset and Tails, even though he's maxed out in his second ultra state and fighting for blood. He then seems equally matched to Shadow one fight later ''and'' reveals he's been holding back.* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqHxGoFERZw The opening chapter/prologue, ''The Hero And The Madman''.]]* DramaticWind: Thanks to the bizarre climate changes, it actually makes sense.* DullSurprise: Eggman has a few when Sonic turns the table on him.* EarnYourHappyEnding* EldritchAbomination: Cinostæphulos's true form. Etero can also use Serdist magic to summon various horrible creatures.* ElegantWeaponForAMoreCivilizedAge: Unforgivably used ''against'' a lightsaber, as opposed to [[KiAttack energy control]]. And it's called out.-->'''Wikke:''' And ''why'' are you using this barbaric and uncivilized weapon? (regarding Koset using his lightsaber)* EleventhHourSuperpower: The hundreds of thousands of unused rings mentioned in the Chekhov's Gun example come in very handy when [[spoiler: Super Sonic has to push Mars away from Earth.]]* EliteMook: Comettes for Eggman. Red Wraiths for Chaos/Serde.* [[EmoTeen Emobot]]: Rockette, according to everyone but herself.* EvenEvilHasStandards: Wikke does not want to do what he has to do on Earth (mostly), but does it to save a slave girl from a FateWorseThanDeath. And because he accepts the mission, he'd suffer the same fate if he backs out.* EvilCounterpart: Cinos and Sonic Android.* EvilLaugh: Eggman is the master of them. Cinos also lets loose a few, though they're more unhinged.* EvilerThanThou: Though he hates being called evil, Wikke repeatedly engages in very dark acts.* EvilMakeover: Wikke and Cinos. Cinos specifically when he separates from Sonic and takes on a more primal, beastly form. Becomes NightmareFuel when it's stated that, had they remained together, this is the form he'd have taken anyway.* EvilTwin: Sonic Android. May also count as an EvilKnockoff.* EvilVersusEvil: The Serdist Mafia and the Serdist Aristocracy are not to be confused with each other: they have no formal ties. Though they do work together on occasion, most of the time they war with each other.* ExtremeMeleeRevenge: Shadow delivers this to Cinos in Chapter 16, ''Illtown Beatdown.''* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler: Sonic.]]* {{Facepalm}}* FantasticRacism: What Rockette believes exists against all robots and not just Eggman's.** The Sonic animals themselves face this by those who believe them to all be evil.* FateWorseThanDeath: The Zero Zone.* FauxAffablyEvil: Malfiore. She is what a 4channer would be if fused with Darth Vader. Making it more frustrating is when [[{{Troll}} she develops faux morals for extended periods of time.]]* {{Flashback}}: One occurs in Episode 9, chapter 35.* FightScene: There's at least one every episode, some expanding over multiple episodes.* {{Filler}}: Episode 8, Waking Up From A Dream. It was a late addition to the series and serves little purpose to the plot at large except to introduce [[KryptoniteFactor Anti-Chaos/Serde]] and the Wraiths. Because of episode 24, this makes Waking Up From A Dream more of a [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowing]] or [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's chapter]] than anything.* FinalBattle: One for the fanfic record books; this final battle lasts ''40 chapters.'' Luckily, it's bombastic enough to make up for the length.* {{Foreshadowing}}: Tails and Koset want to avoid thunderstorms and only fly through them when they absolutely have to, only for the storms to encompass them as soon as they leave? Gee, doesn't sound like a metaphor at all...** Koset and others repeatedly state that [[TemptingFate they don't believe that Sonic needs to go Super Sonic to handle their current situation.]]** No one believes that Sonic Android is Sonic because they trust Sonic as a hero too much. This only makes Cinos's appearance all the more dark.* ForTheEvulz: Malfiore's reasons for sabotaging Wikke's mission and trolling the Sonic heroes.* FrameUp: Sonic Android, to frame Sonic for murder and destruction and turn GUN and the humans against him and his friends. Backfires when the Serdist Rogues meddle with Wikke's plot.* FreakOut: Wikke has one in Episode 15.* FromBadToWorse: Shadow is killed? Sonic's turned evil? Sonic just killed millions? [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Evil Sonic has a crappy name?]] Knuckles is killed? Though no one has yet truly died, it only helps to make the whole atmosphere relentlessly dark.* FullNameUltimatum: -->'''Cinos:''''I AM SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!'* {{Funny Animal}}s* [[ShowWithinAShow Game Franchise Within A Game Franchise]]: The ''[[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Atom the Porcupine]]'' franchise. [[SelfParody Tails is a massive fan]], defending it from people who claim that it has never matched its classic era. He also [[SelfDeprecation writes and promotes incredibly deep fanfiction]] of the game series, earning him ridicule and scorn by peers. * GenericDoomsdayVillain: How Sonic and friends initially view Wikke. [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Hey, you can't blame them.]]* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In Episode 24, we get this exchange -->'''Shadow:''' “Open and engage your appleLink. There’s one hundred and forty seven minutes of WAV coming at you.”-->'''Rouge:'''“It’s still in WAV format? Damn, Shaddie, now I have to get rid of a buncha, er... ‘'private'’ messages.”-->'''Shadow:'''“I’m sure he’s not going to care. Do it!” -->'''Rouge:'''“Big ol’ sigh... “ One, two, three rapid beeps. “A’ight, got it.” Rouge sets her glove-stitch back in place.-->'''Shadow:'''“By the way. You have standard memory on there- that’s twenty terabytes, right? How many mess-“-->'''Rouge:'''“Look, I don’t snoop around '''your''' personal life, do I?”-->'''Shadow:''' “Right.” ** In Episode 26, Jynx pours golden culture fluid on Rouge, to which Jynx jokes that it's "raining gold"** One of the central symbols on Wikke's Jackal form is described as a cross [[NonNaziSwastika "bent in four places."]]* GlorySeeker: Wikke. He passes this down to Morningstar, though she'll always claim it's pure altruism. * TheGhost: Metal Sonic, Blaze, Cream, and Sally. Also, the Serdist Rogues. They do make an appearance in a flashback, however.* GoodIsNotSoft: Koset has moral restraints, but isn't afraid to kill when there's no other option. ** The ever more psychotic Knuckles to Jynx. Even Rouge agrees that the mole should be killed, to the chagrin of the others (who haven't experienced him).* GoshDangItToHeck: Though averted on occasion, the characters try their best to maintain the clean mouths they have in the games. * GottaCatchEmAll: The Chaos Emeralds, for the first season. * {{Greed}}: Jynx. He's as greedy for rings as Rouge is for jewels, and works to collect the Master Emerald for the sole reason to use it to create more rings, unaware that Wikke needs it to [[spoiler:prevent the heroes from stabilizing Chaos energy and limiting Serde energy.]]* GreenHillZone: The TropeNamer appears last, ironically, in the first season. It's where the final battle between Super Sonic and Wikke takes place.* LevelGrinding: Used well with Rockette, whose determination to rival and kill Sonic leads her to pushing herself against all odds to match him, even though he keeps on improving in leaps and bounds.* LighterAndSofter: Season 2, until the very end. It's so much brighter than either Season 1 or 3 that it could pass as being a modern Sonic game.** Season 4 initially appears to be extremely lighthearted as well, on a near Sonic Colors level.* HairTriggerTemper: Knuckles, once Jynx gets to him.* HeelRealization: Jynx realizes the damage he's caused and becomes TheAtoner.* HellishPupils: Wikke's eyes are described as demonic, [[LampshadeHanging but Koset's eyes are the exact same. He isn't called out because the heroes don't see Wikke close up until the very end]]* HeroAntagonist: Though utterly unapparent, it turns out [[spoiler:Wikke is a hero. He risked his life to save a slave and end slavery on an alien planet, and his mission at the start of the fanfic only involves destruction because of two rouge Serdist agents meddling with his goals.]] * HeroicSecondWind: All throughout the fourth arc.* {{Homage}}: The series makes a clever homage to Dragon Ball Z with Koset explaining how to temporarily and quickly increase one's energy right before an attack, a technique used in Dragon Ball Z.-->'''Koset:''' I've learned that there's a way to increase your energy in short, intense bursts right when you strike an opponent. In one punch, your power could be ten times, even a hundred times its normal level.** Season 2 homages [[Film/TheMatrix]] when it's discovered that the Sonic heroes are a part of an interactive simulated universal program (aka, a video game).-->'''Tails:''' We should have been collecting the blue star rings all along.-->'''Sonic:''' Tails, it's ''way'' too early in the morning. Please don't start.* HonoraryTrueCompanion: Koset. [[spoiler:Death kept him from joining the heroes]], and then he wouldn't stay on Earth.* HopelessBossFight: The final battle with Wikke. It become extraordinary hopeless when [[spoiler:right before Sonic is able to become Super Sonic (at first), Eggman reappears and knocks the Chaos Emeralds away, opening Sonic to the [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beatdown]] [[PunctuatedForEmphasis of. His. Life.]] ]]* HostileWeather: In one chapter, lightning is ''chasing people''. Globally, it leads to instability and rebellions due to crop failure and food shortages, though this is only implied. The weather is also noted as being incredibly bizarre by scientists. Also: Thunderstorms that emit [[{{EMP}} EMP waves]] and Chaos Energy. * HurricaneKick * ICantBelieveImSayingThis: When [[spoiler:Amy announces she's given up on Sonic thanks to Cinos]], practically everyone on the planet is stunned.* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Wikke. * IdiotBall: Wikke's with the Serdists all because [[spoiler:Koset believes that sending him to train with them with lead to him turning against them, ala a sketchy prophecy. And he's given to the Serdists ''as a child'' while already bonding with his father]] [[WhatTheHellHero What the hell, man!]]** Eggman's decision to brandish a ring in the open right as Sonic needed it in Episode 4 initially seemed this way before later being [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] as a ChekhovsGun* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: The whole point of Arc 2's fights. By Arc 3, however, the heroes don't bother.* ImportantHaircut: Averted by Amy. She lets her hair grow out slightly longer after season 1.* InterestingSituationDuel: Station Square, Cinos vs Tails and Koset. It begins with the entire sky and city being black. And by black, this doesn't mean ''night,'' this is a black so completely black, one can't even see two inches in front of their eyes.* JawDrop* {{Jerkass}}: Santorini. [[spoiler:Koset]] in the past.* JungleJapes* KiAttacks* KickTheDog: When Cinos destroys Station Square. The fact he's murdered an untold number of people becomes a psychological weapon later on. ** Jynx making a sexual innuendo remark towards Rouge '''''really''''' pisses off Knuckles.** Tails getting struck by Wikke causes Sonic's rage to break.** Wikke suffers a moment when Sonic [[spoiler:destroys an amulet that protects Morningstar from Serdist drones coming to collect her, meaning she will be re-enslaved.]]* KnightOfCerebus: Averted by Wikke, though the grimdark events surrounding his arrival lead to him being seen as such in-universe.* KryptoniteFactor: Chaos and Serde energy are opposite to each other, and thus can cancel each other it. This depends on the skill and strength of the user and victim, as well as whatever artifacts are used for the effects. This is one of the series' most celebrated elements.* LampshadeHanging: When Sonic and friends question the abrupt appearance of Koset. Ever wonder how Sonic and friends would actually react to a recolor appearing?** They also question if Koset is [[MarySue a child's badly made imaginary friend]] and if he is [[MarySue secretly related to Sonic or someone else]].** Also a question posed. Super forms only use one ring a second, right? Is that a set number, or can one change it to increase or decrease energy output? [[spoiler:Super Sonic answers this question in the final battle, with explosive results.]]* LeeroyJenkins: Sonic doesn't consider taking the Chaos Detector on multiple occasions where it would've been useful because he's only out to do things quickly.* LeParkour: In Episode 40, Amy reveals she's joined a Freerunner's Guild as a first attempt at self-development.* LevelsTakeFlight: Overground Circuit and the Sky Complex.* LighterAndSofter: Averted; in fact, a central point of the story is to take the light-hearted nature of the franchise and put it into an oppressively dark situation.* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The franchise's bloated cast is repeatedly mentioned throughout the story as a quirk of being a friend to Sonic. Most of the modern cast also appears.* LookWhatICanDoNow: Related to the homage example, when Cinos confronts [[spoiler:Rockette]], he uses Koset's technique to [[spoiler: destroy the robot effortlessly.]]* MeaningfulName: No readers [[spoiler:should]] know this, but WordOfGod has it that 'Koset' comes from an artificial language meant for another fanfiction, and literally means "Green Light." ** Yfel comes directly from the Old English word 'Evil', which fits them considering that they are war machines.* MechaMooks: The Rockettes, the Egg Pawns, the badniks, and various other robotic baddies from other sides. Comettes also count as [[EliteMook elite Mecha Mooks.]]* MediumAwareness: Part of season 2's plot (arguably a sideplot in and of itself) is the global reaction that the Sonic universe is a video game, one that can work to the benefit of the heroes and villains. -->'''Sonic:''' Press the ''B'' button to ju—... Wh-why did I just say that?-->'''Tails:''' Someone's playing as you. (Cue disturbed expression on Sonic's face)* MeleeATrois: Sonic heroes vs Eggman and Wikke's team vs the unstated Serdist Rogues.* MindRape: Cinos loves using this trope against Sonic's friends.* MindScrew: Is Super Sonic [[spoiler:pushing a planet with his bare hands?]]* {{Mons}}: When it's discovered that Chaos and Serdist Wraiths can be harnessed and given physical forms, the series takes this path. Season 2 and 3 are all about this trope, leading to points where the action feels more akin to [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Pokémon]] than Sonic. Tails becomes adept in playing the role of a [[TheBeastmaster beastmaster.]] Because some characters (such as Sonic and Metal Sonic) don't like controlling Mons, and thus there are often battles between characters and Mons as well.* MoodWhiplash: One minute, making geeky jokes and poking fun of the ButtMonkey, the next showing off a 12 year old's MindRape and collective breakdown?* {{Mordor}}: Ancient Mobia* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Wikke remains loyal to the Serdist Aristocracy, which is one of the reasons why he doesn't just fly off and engage in power orgies [[spoiler:during his last days alive.]]* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Rockette will not betray Eggman, even when she [[spoiler:achieves almost everything she hopes for and exists as a dubious ally with Sonic.]]* NiceJobBreakingItHero: When Sonic [[spoiler:shatters Wikke's Morningstar Gem]], unaware that this means someone will be enslaved by a brutal master. This same someone also happens to be one of his fair-weather friends.* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Cinos has many ancient skills that are unlocked via Chaos transformation and observation, such as [[Anime/DragonBallZ Chaos Zenkai]] and the instant-increase abilities. When Sonic emerges victorious over Cinostæphulos, he now has all of Cinostæphulos's abilities. Though Wikke is not responsible for Cinos, he essentially trained Sonic to defeat him.* [[OneHitKill No-Hit Kill]]: Some of the Rockettes are so shoddily built that the compression of air created by one of Sonic's homing attacks can break one appart.* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Sonic Android issues a particularly harsh one to Shadow. Cinos also sends one Rockette's way.* NotCompletelyUseless: Amy. Also, Rockette.** Averted by Big. He is in the series for no other reason than to eat Tails' ice cream.* NotSoDifferent: Eggman notes that Wikke shares personality traits with Sonic multiple times and openly calls Wikke 'the real evil Sonic' in Episode 24.* OffTheRails: Wikke's whole mission in the first season was to [[spoiler:set down a Serdist sigil and use the pre-chosen proxy that happened to be Sonic to revive an old Serdist lord.]] It wasn't going to take more than a few hours and his only reason to ally himself with Eggman was to [[spoiler:announce to the Yurei Union that the Serdists are on their way.]] Everything that happened was caused by [[spoiler:Malfiore's relentless need to troll and Santorini trying to steal back his slave and Koset attempting to subvert him.]]* OhCrap: Multiple times, starting when Sonic is nearly done in by a sticky-explosive shaped like a bouncing ball.* OmnicidalManiac: Cinos. * OneWingedAngel: The Yfels. They range from gigantic plasma entities the size of asteroids to stratospheric giant wraiths. While they are immensely strong, their KryptoniteFactor makes them incredibly easy to defeat once the heroes know what they're doing.** When Wikke is 60% Unleashed, he becomes a gigantic Jackal, as tall as a building. This is then subverted when he reaches 100% and shrinks down to Sonic's height. * OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Noticed when characters such as Amy lose their cheery tones and Rouge seemingly becomes selfless.* OutGambitted: Eggman and Wikke's plot to use the fake Chaos Emeralds to throw off the heroes is thwarted by the Serdist Rogues.* OutOfGenreExperience: Platformer in prose, then fighting series, then {{Mons}}. That's not even considering the story at large shifting from corny adventure to doomsday scenario to cyberpunk to space opera/war story.* PainfullySlowProjectile: The reason why Shadow's Chaos Bomb fails against Wikke. -->'''Rouge''': Chaos Spears are as fast as lightning. But Shadow's Chaos Bomb...-->'''Shadow''': An embarrassing oversight. I should never have assumed it would travel at the same speed.* ParentalAbandonment: Backstory for [[spoiler:Koset and Wikke, though it's less abandonment and more Koset telling a child Wikke [[IdiotBall "I'm sending you to Sith Academy so you can become a Jedi and assume you will rebel because of a prophecy foretold by chronic liars."]] ]]* PassingTheTorch: Tails receiving Koset's lightsaber.* PlotArmor: Any Sonic friend Cinos faces off with.* PluckyComicRelief: Anything with Knuckles and Jynx, though it begins becoming downright disturbing at times.* PoliceAreUseless: Played straight for most of the first season. Averted during Episode 40, when the police become [[{{Badass}} cyborg badasses.]]* PortentOfDoom: Non-stop storms and floating glowing humanoids? There's no other way to take such a thing.* ThePowerOfFriendship: Very surprisingly, the last battle with Wikke has the heroes calling upon this. This is despite it being deconstructed earlier.* PowerUp: Rings and Chaos Emeralds. Mobio's Power Ups also apply.* [[PrecisionFStrike Precision B Strike]]: In Episode 10, Wikke drops one. Because the series still operates on a GoshDarnItToHeck principle (most of the time), it is very jarring.* [[PunchedAcrossTheRoom Punched Across The Planet]]: Super Sonic does this to Wikke, though in a homing attack.* PunchCatch* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: Uttered by Jynx in Episode 21 after his barrage against Knuckles completely fails.* PunctuatedForEmphasis* PyrrhicVictory: Defeated Wikke. Now you have to deal with a world falling apart and a lack of trust from said world as well as an incoming army of darkness far beyond what you're capable of defending against.* RaysFromHeaven: During The Eggman Empire Strikes Back. Chapter 24 is literally called ''Rays of Light!'' * TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Eggman hands Rockette one in Episode 15, thus kicking off her story.* ReligionOfEvil: Serdism. Not to be confused with the Serde Force.** [[spoiler:Wikke all the same. His actions involving the death of millions isn't very heroic, but he is actually trying to free a slave and his own actions trouble him.]]* RidingIntoTheSunset: Chapter 9, the last chapter of the first arc, features Sonic and Koset running into the sunset. [[{{Foreshadowing}} Considering what comes after...]]* RoboSpeak: Robotnik's machines capable of speech display this.* TheRuinsICaused: Any time there's a major battle, especially in a city. It doesn't help that there are sociopolitical and economic repercussions, Earthly and galactic. * RunningGag: Amy calls Koset a [[ConspiracyTheorist paranoid conspiracy theorist]] as early as Episode 3, and never lets it go. Ever.* {{Sadist}}: Cinos. He hates it when things die too quickly, and purposely employs mindgames. * SdrawkcabName: Cinos. Though the Serdist Lord's full name is [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast longer and more arcane]], Wikke shortened it to Cinos because it's Sonic spelled backwards.** This does not go over well with anyone, not Cinos, not even readers of the story, and Wikke earns postmortem scorn for it. Though it was probably meant as a parody of badly written fanfiction, it remains a criticism.* TheScrappy: InUniverse, the Eggmanland Rockettes. They're despised and made fun of by everyone because of their depressingly low quality.* SerialEscalation: The Serdist Caste. Ranges from the Beginner Students to the Administrator, with each class exponentially more powerful than the last.* SixthRangerTraitor: Etero. She was the first competent human to join the all-animal cast, too.* ShoutOut: The pyramid base from Sonic Adventure 2 is a major part of the story for the first arc, and it doesn't go unmentioned that it's being reused. ** Episode 40, chapters 158, 159, and 160, all pull major inspiration from [[LightNovel/{{Durarara}} Durarara]] and [[VideoGame/MirrorsEdge Mirror's Edge]].** Season 2 is this towards [[Film/TronLegacy Tron]] and [[Film/TheMatrix The Matrix]]. Also during the season, there's an episode where Shadow chases down a secret agent through a [[FilmNoir noir-laden Empire City]], utilizing Chaos Control to [[BulletTime slow down time]], and openly using weapons, though also using Chaos magic. If one still doesn't pick it up, several chapter names complete the shout out, including one literally named [[VideoGame/MaxPayne Maximum Pain.]]** Season 3 starts off with an invasion that closely mimicks the one in [[VideoGame/FreedomFighters Freedom Fighters]], and many of the events, artifacts, and weapons used by the Black Arms and Serdist Mafia reference [[Franchise/{{Halo}} Halo]] and [[Franchise/MassEffect Mass Effect]]. ** One of Mobio's Power Ups is named [[Anime/DragonBallZ The Z Grenade]] and it creates an electric halo around its user, increasing his/her power. Another power up that gives one a special boost is called [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Tri-Force Hyperboost.]] ** There's a [[SelfParody shout out of the Sonic franchise itself]] with the InUniverse ''Atom The Porcupine'' series.* SkywardScream: Knuckles has many.* SlaveMooks: Mycopian Serdists, whom are weaker than beginner students, are this. [[spoiler:Morningstar]] is an example.* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: While anything can be done if [[PowerOfFriendship we all do it together,]] don't forget that [[TheGoodGuysAlwaysWin heroes can lose.]] * SpaceMarine: Battalion 23 is created for this purpose.* SpellBook: Svlinomicon and the Chaos Arcanus.* StealthPun: Not exactly stealthy, though the joke itself requires some thinking.-->'''Jynx:'''' "What's the only thing heavier than an iron butterfly? ''A lead zeppelin!''" (Drops a magic zeppelin on Knuckles)* SuicidalOverconfidence: Rockette against Cinos, though in her defense she didn't fully intend to ''win,'' just to prove her worth to Eggman by dying in battle.* SuperMode: Besides just Super Sonic, the series also introduces 'Ultra Sonic,' which is a super form whose power is based off of individual emeralds. -->'''Koset:'''"They're your intermediate forms. All right? They're what you transform into before you go Super. Any transformation using individual emeralds, Chaos or Super, are ultra forms. But understand me now that the whole, in this situation, is far greater than the sum of its parts."* SuperpoweredEvilSide: False Super Sonic in Episode 35.** Wikke's Serdist Unleashed form might count as this as well, as his former reluctance to fight is completely abandoned.* SuperSoldier: The United Federation police, Episode 40 on.* SuperStrength: There's a technique where Sonic can increase his strength in short bursts, potentially making him as strong as ''Knuckles.'' And as for Knuckles?-->'''Koset:''' Of course, if your friend were to learn [this technique], there's no reason why he couldn't punch the Earth off its axis and out of orbit, or rip a hole through space.* TakeOverTheWorld: Already done by the Serdists. [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] by Metal Sonic and Digital Sonic in season 2, who decide to play hero. Why, consider they're supposed to be evil? [[spoiler:They have nothing better to do, and taking over the world is cliche.]] Backfires because [[spoiler:their methods of achieving it (destroy the Internet) are still destructive, and the Sonic heroes regardless see them as villains.]]* TakingTheBullet: Koset takes an energy blast for Tails. [[spoiler:It didn't do much good because Wikke just fired again (though with less power to make Tails suffer).]]* TheseHandsHaveKilled: Koset mentions this to the Sonic heroes in Episode 25.* ThirteenIsUnlucky: Episode 13.* TooFastToStop: [[CaptainOblivious Sonic accidentally runs off of a cliff,]] slows down too late, and falls onto jagged rocks, breaking his legs and leaving him bedridden for months. And this is how the story starts.* TookALevelInBadass: Amy, several times, but especially Episode 40, and she comes off as a badass even ''after all the fighting had been done''.* ToxicFriendInfluence: Koset, though only as part of his backstory of how he lost his hand [[spoiler:and friends and several planets.]]* TrainingFromHell: Rockette goes through this to become Malfiore's apprentice. It's all for nothing because [[spoiler:accepting the tasks in the first place was a failure condition in and of itself.]]* {{Troll}}: Malfiore. To a lesser extent, Jynx.* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters: Metal Sonic and Digital Sonic. In a rare [[AntiHero anti-heroic subversion]], they do this to ''save'' the human/anthro world from its own destruction. * UnderestimatingBadassery: Rockette and Tails in season 3* UndyingLoyalty: Averted and deconstructed with tearjerking results.* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: The world mixes humans and anthros, though it's consistently mentioned that the fanfic is meant to be imagined either as a cartoon or anime.* VerbalTic: When he's flustered, Koset begins stuttering.* VideoGameSettings: Because the first arc is set up as if it's a typical Sonic adventure, there are instances of this, ala Windy Valley, Casinopolis sewers, and Red Mountain expies.** In a later chapter, floating platforms are mentioned and [[{{Deconstruction}}discussed in-depth.]]* WeHaveBeenResearchingPhlebotinumForYears: Anti-Chaos/Serde.* WeDoTheImpossible: Best exemplified by Super Sonic holding Mars in his hands and pushing it back into orbit.* WhatMeasureIsAMook: The series goes in-depth explaining things from the side of a failed Eggman robot named E-182-5241, part of a series known as the ''Eggmanland Rockettes'', specifically upon the subject of being a robot made by Eggman.* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Also apart of the sidestory of E-182-5241 "Rockette" is about how robots are seen as less alive or not worth anything.* WhiteAndGreyMorality: Wikke and several other Serdists do not like being called 'evil' because a motto of the Serdists is that "evil is but a point of view." * WhiteGloves: Averted, as Koset has a metallic prosthetic hand, and Wikke has no gloves. * WorldBuilding: The world in the story is based off of the Sonic Unleashed world, with the rest of the known locations added in rather than the fluid and undefined world of the games. It also features new locations that become integral to the plot.* WorldOfFunnyAnimals: There's a noticeably larger number of Funny Animal anthros in the story than there is in the games.* WouldHitAGirl: Openly mentioned only once, but with [[ActionGirl action girls a part of the series]], played straight.* WouldHurtAChild: Cinos. It's implied he ''kills'' a little girl in Episode 11.* TheWorfEffect: The heroes lose more than they win during the first season.* WrittenSoundEffect* XanatosGambit: Eggman fully planned [[spoiler:Metal Sonic and Digital Sonic's betrayal]] and had special procedures in place for any off chance tangent. If they win, he wins. If they lose, he wins. If they win in any small or large form, he wins. * YouALLLookFamiliar: The Rockettes and the Comettes.* YouAreNumberSix: You know one of Eggman's robots is exceptional if it has a name. Rockette plays this straight as she merely took the name of her series.* YouCouldHaveUsedYourPowersForGood: Rockette.* YouHaveFailedMe: ''The Eggmanland Rockettes'', en masse. WordOfGod says that there were over 25000 made, but because of the brand's low quality, over half were stripped to scrap metal and the other half are used as surrogate Egg Pawns with the intention of being destroyed.* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe

---- [[index]] ''Though I may not know what you've been told, Miss Rose, I can assure you it is all a lie.''[[/index]]